As a brilliant performing street-car and race car, Aston Martin’s Vantage is viewed by enthusiasts as a soon-to-be classic. For 2009, Aston Martin told us that the Vantage was coming to the United States and – most importantly – would be receiving the powerplant from their range-topping sporty grand tourer, the DBS. The V12 Vantage itself is what petrolphiles dream about in a sports car, a massive 6.0-liter V12 engine crammed into the petite, lightweight chassis. As luck should have it, we not only have one coming to auction soon, but this example is one of the ultra-rare Carbon Black editions specifically designed for the U.S. market.
Outside and inside the Carbon Black edition is a categorically extraordinary automobile from the team at Aston Martin. Metallic paint – expectedly titled Carbon Black – envelops the hand-assembled coachwork and contributes a faint shimmer among the beautiful, deep black base. A previous owner has taken the liberty of having Feynlab apply their self-healing clear wrap over the paint to preserve its luster. Also as expected, individual bits of bodywork on the Carbon Black edition has been reworked in carbon fiber such as the side vent strakes, the louvered hood vents, rear diffuser, and front splitter. 19” ten-spoke alloy wheels have diamond-cut faces and painted black inlays to distinguish the exclusivity of this Vantage further.
Within the interior, fabrics colored in Obsidian Black are classically contrasted with aluminum and anodized steel elements on the Piano Black surfaces. Obsidian Black leather is correspondingly paired to Alcantara inserts on the seats and door panel leather with subtle silver stitching that highlights the curves. The seats themselves have been produced with carbon fiber with kevlar to cut out a considerable amount of weight. Meanwhile, a combination of black leather and Alcantara also finishes the steering wheel. Sculpted layers define instrumentation on the 220-mph speedometer, the counter-clockwise operating tachometer as well as the ancillary gauges. In total, 26,000 miles (plus some change) are registered on the odometer.
Performance on the V12 Vantage is inherently superior to that of its V8 powered stablemate. 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque are generated from the six-liter monster, and this makes the Vantage capable of 190-mph. Slowing that roll are gigantic six-piston calipers up front and all around are carbon ceramic brake discs that are not only lightweight but also nearly fade-resistant. A six-speed manual transmission changes the ratios with power ultimately being sent out to the rear wheels.
This Vantage has been extremely well-kept by all four owners and has lived in several states with a Carfax report issuing no warnings about accidents or damages. The historical record also shows regular maintenance throughout its life. Supplied with purchase are all three keys (sapphire, black, and metal) plus the original leather-bound portfolio containing the factory owner’s manual and books. The Vantage is now a resident of California and, as such, carries a clean title from that state. The auction begins soon on this exclusive example of a car that is already destined to be a classic!
